Exercise apparatus including stall bars and exercise equipment mounted thereon

ABSTRACT

An exercise apparatus includes a basic stall bar unit and a pair of parallel bar units each having an attachment plate with a top hook for hooking over a stall bar and with the plate abutting the adjacent stall bars. A tubular parallel bar projects forwardly from each plate and a brace extends from the center of the parallel bar to the plate. A chinning bar has outer mounting rings adapted to telescope over the outer ends of the parallel bars. A shoulder unit includes tubular mounts telescopic with the parallel bars and a flexible connector for coupling to a rowing lever having a releasable pivotal connector for mounting upon a stall bar. The rowing lever is adjustable to permit proper extension of thereof for use as a part of the press unit or as a separate rowing lever exerciser. A bicycle type pedal unit has tubular mounts for releasable locking attachment to the parallel bars. A barbell and parallel bar bracket attachments are also provided as well as an exercise board and a supporting stool for use with the other elements. The board is provided with the necessary pad and straps for various exercises including calf exercises.

United States Patent [191 Niebojewski Apr. 1, 1975 [76] Inventor: Frank J. Niebojewski, 965 Tower Hill Dr., Brookfield, Wis. 53005 [22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 346,168

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 43,337, June 4, 1970, abandoned, and a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 294,975, Oct. 4, 1972, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl 272/58, 272/63, 272/73, 262/81, 262/84, 262/60 R, 272/62, 262/DIG.

2, 272/DIG. 4

[51] Int. Cl ..A63b 17/04, A63b 21/10, A63b 13/00, A63b 23/04 [58] Field of Search 272/58, 62, 63, 60 R, 79 R, 272/81, 82, 83 R, 84

56,191 5/1967 Germany 272/58 Primary Examiner--Richard C. Pickham Assistant ExaminerR. T. Stouffer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall [5 7] ABSTRACT An exercise appartus includes a basic stall bar unit and a pair of parallel bar units each having an attachment plate with a top hook for hooking over a stall bar and with the plate abutting the adjacent stall bars. A tubular parallel bar projects forwardly from each plate and a brace extends from the center of the parallel bar to the plate. A chinning bar has outer mounting rings adapted to telescope over the outer ends of the parallel bars. A shoulder unit includes tubular mounts telescopic with theparallel bars and a flexible connector for coupling to a rowing lever having a releasable pivotal connector for mounting upon a stall bar. The rowing lever is adjustable to permit proper extension of thereof for use as a part .of the press unit or as a separate rowing lever exerciser. A bicycle type pedal unit has tubular mounts for releasable locking attachment to the parallel bars. A barbell and parallel bar bracket attachments are also provided as well as an exercise board and a supporting stool for use with the other elements. The board is provided with the necessary pad and straps for various exercises including calf exeruses.

12 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTED 1 975 szazaamg EXERCISE APPARTUS INCLUDING STALL BARS AND EXERCISE EQUIPMENT MOUNTED THEREON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of my application filed June 4, 1970 with Ser. No. 43,337 and my application filed Oct. 4, 1972 with Sen No. 294,975, both of which are now abandoned.

This invention relates to gymnastic equipment and particularly to a coordinated unit providing a plurality of different body building and developing devices in a compact unit.

Various individual exercise devices have been designed for assisting in the development of the body muscles and the like. Generally, individual devices are provided in a gymnasium, each of which is especially constructed for particular muscle exercise. Such an arrangement is, of course, acceptable in a gymnasium and other establishments without severe space limitations and where usage may justify the attendant expense of individual units. The use of such facilities, however, does require travel to and from the location having the desired faacilities. Further, in some smaller facilities they may not have all of the desired muscle exercising devices for one reason or another. There is, therefore, a distinct need for a small compact unit which can be provided for relatively small facilities and even desirably as a home exercise gymnasium. Such a unit, however, should be extremely versatile in order to provide for a wide range of various individual exercises such as normally provided in a complete facility. Although various cabinet type devices have been suggested they have not generally provided a highly versatile type unit having the various desired exercising devices in a small compact arrangement.

SUMMARY OF PRESENT INVENTION The present invention is particularly directed to aa relatively small compact assembly providing all of the essential muscle building facilities in a single interrelated package. Generally in accordance with the present invention, a basic stall bar unit is provided consisting of a plurality of parallel vertically spaced bars for the usual basic fitness exercises. A pair of basic support parallel bar means is provided with each means having a releasable connection means at one end for selective connection of the corresponding parallel bar means individually and separately to the stall bars. The releasable interconnection is such as to provide a pair of forwardly projecting and laterally spaced parallel bars which are firmly interconnected in a releasable manner to the stall bars to readily support the weight of the personnel desiring to exercise on the equipment. The bars may, of course, be spaced for the various types of muscle exercises. Further, various other associated equipment is provided having means for releasable telescoped attachment to the parallel bars and providing for various intercoordinated exercises by releasably attachment to the parallel and stall bars. Thus, a chinning bar and barbell rack support for a bench press unit may be provided. Generally, an abdominal board as well as a supporting stool and a set of conventional barbells or the like are also employed to complete a self-contained home-type gymnasium. The unit preferably also provides for advanced exercise devices such as generally separately provided by a lat machine, a rowing lever as well as a leg press machine and calf exercise machine. In accordance with the particularly novel aspect and feature of the present invention, a bicycle type exercise attachment is also provided to permit exercising of the arms, legs and associated muscles.

Thus in accordance with a particularly novel and significant construction of the present invention, a stall bar assembly has plurality of stall bars extending throughout the depth of the unit between a pair of vertical supports with the conventional stall bar spacing. The stall bar assembly may form an integrated part of a storage cabinet or may be a separate unit which can be releasably mounted within a suitable storage cabinet. If desired, it can of course be incorporated in a form to be attached to a suitable wall or other supporting structure within a home or the like to form built-in home unit. The parallel bar means in accordance with a preferred and particularly novel construction each includes an attachment base member having a hook at one end to permit hooking of the base portion over the stall bars and with the base portion extending downwardly therefrom and abutting the stall bars to provide a firm support. A supporting tubular member as a parallel bar projects forwardly from the base and is preferably provided with an interconnecting strengthening brace attached generally centrally of the parallel bar and to the base to provide'a' very strong parallel bar construction. Then mounting of the parallel bars provides free outer end portions to permit the grasping by the exerciser and also forming a support for various exercise change elements. The parallel bars are preferably formed as hollow tubular members which are adapted to receive supporting members, internally and- /or externally. For example, a chinning bar may conveniently be provided with outermounting rings adapted to telescope over the outer ends of the parallel bars. Suitable locking means can, of course, be provided to permit locking of the chinning bar in position. A shoulder unit includes tubular mounts telescopic with the parallel bars for location to permit convenient resting of the unit on the shoulders. A rowing lever includes a releasable interconnection to be mounted upon a stall bar below the parallel barsand interconnected to the shoulder unit by a suitable flexible element such as a chain, The rowing lever is adjustable to permit proper extension thereof for use as a part of the press unit or as a separate rowing lever exercise.

Further, in accordance with a very important aspect of the present invention, a bicycle type pedal unit is provided having end mounting members adapted to be releasably locked to the parallel bars at the oppposite ends and providing a pair' of pedal units between the parallel bars. The parallel bars are conveniently located on the stall bars for leg and/or armmanipulation to thereby permit corresponding bicycle type exercises.

The present invention thus provides a very compact and versatile gymnastic assembly which can be practically constructed at a very reasonable cost for use in relatively small facilities and particularly in the home, and/or an executive office. The apparatus may also be used as a Home physical therapy aid, thereby minimizing out patient visits to a hospital or clinic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings furnished herewith illustrate the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention and in which the above advantages and features are clearly disclosed as well as others which will be readily understood from the following description of such embodiment.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a cabinet type gymnastic assembly unit constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a rowing lever adapted to form a part of the unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical fragmentary section illustrating a further modification to the structure, and particularly illustrating a lat machine for use with the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view showing an alternative free standing unit constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of FIG. 4 showing the alternative attachment to the aparatus;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view similar to FIG. 4 showing a cross bar unit mounted on the parallel bars;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 5 showing a further modified attachment in accordance with the invention providing a rowing lever unit which may be modified to provide a calf exerciser;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view more clearly illustrating a part of the exercise unit shown in FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side view showing a bicycle attachment mounted to the unit of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top view of the structure shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a further pictorial view showing the board application of the invention; and

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of a board component shown in FIG. 12.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, the present invention is shown forming a part of a compartmented exercise device, including an outer cabinet 10 having an interconnected top wall 11 and floor wall 12 interconnected by vertical sidewalls 13 and 14. The front of the cabinet 10 is closed by pivotally or otherwise movably mounted doors l5 and 16. The doors l5 and 16 are preferably selected with the bottom edges 17 and 18 providing a vertical support in the open position, as shown. Thus, the lower door edges may be flush with the bottom exterior face of the wall 12 or spaced slightly above the bottom wall such that when inclined outwardly, the doors bear against the supporting surface upon which the cabinet 10 is placed thereby positively preventing forwarding tipping of the cabinet during the use of the apparatus as presently described.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a stall bar rack 19 permanently fixed within the cabinet and in particular including a plurality of vertically spaced stall bars 20, which are equally spaced throughout the depth of the cabinet 10. The bars are shown spearately mounted within the unit between a pair of sidewalls 21 and 22 which extend parallel to and are spaced inwardly from the sidewalls 13 and 14 of the cabinet. The multiple wall construction provides added strength and stability and in addition defines storage areas to either side of the stall bar assembly. In accordance with a particularly important novel feature of the present invention, the exercising assembly includes a pair of special parallel bar units, shown mounted in parallel spaced relation to one of the stall bars 20 in the upper portion of the cabinet, and in place for use. Each of the arm units includes a base bracket 23 formed of a plate-like construction with an upper hook portion 24 which extends about the backside of a stall bar 20 and then over the top thereof to provide a depending parallel brace portion which extends downwardly and abutts the front edge or portion of the stall bars 20 immediately below the stall bar 20 upon which the hook portion rests. Each of the units further includes a similar parallel bar 25 attached to the base bracket 23 immediately below the hook as by welding and projecting outwardly therefrom. A reinforcing member or rod 26 is preferably secured between the parallel bar 25 and the depending brace bracket 23 to provide a very firm support for the parallel bar 25. The stall bars 2 and separate parallel bars 25 form the basic supporting unit for directly performing many exercises in the illustrated embodiment of the invention. Thus, the stall bars may be used directly without the parallel bars in place and with the parallel bars in place for various exercises.

In FIG. 1 a horizontal pull-up or chinning bar 27 is attached to the outer free ends of the parallel bars 25. The bar 27 is shown as a tubular bar member having similar ring-like supports integrally or otherwise fixedly connected to the opposite ends of the bar 27. The ring members slide over the free ends of the bar 25 to releasably mount the bar 27 in position for use. This construction may be provided with a relatively firm fit to prevent accidentally movement of the horizontal bar 27 from the parallel bars 25. Thus, as shown in FIG. 1, the bar 27 is conveniently located for chinning exercises and the like.

Other accessories may also be provided. For example, in FIG. 2 a pivoted weight arm or rowing lever unit is illustrated including a rodlike support 30 having a journal means 31 secured to one end. The illustrated journal means 31 is shown as a generally tubular member welded to the end of the arm 30 and having a pair of overlapping clamping plate-like extensions. Thus the member 31 may be opened to telescope over a stall bar 20 and establish a pivotal mounting thereto. The outer end of the pivot arm 30 is provided with a cross shaft 32 with weight means 33 suitably secured to the outerv ends thereof such as in the manner of a usual barbell construction. With the lever arm pivotally mounted to.

'a lower one of the stall bar 20 the user can manually grasp the cross shaft 32 to lift the weights 33. The user can stand in front of the device, or can stand with his legs straddling the bar 30 behind the weight 33, and

. grasp the bar 32 either between the weights or to the bracket 23. Thus the bracket 36 includes an upper hook portion 37 adapted to hook behind and over a stall bar 20 with the bracket depending downwardly over the adjacent stall bars. A pulley support bracket 38 is welded or otherwise secured to the bracket 36 and projects outwardly therefrom with a pair of spaced pulleys 39 and 40 rotatably mounted within the bracket 38. A flexible rope or cable is fed over the pulleys 39 and 40 with a hand grip unit 41 provided on the outer depending portion of the cable and an adjustable weight unit 42 secured to the opposite inner end. This permits application of the unit in accordance with the usual features and applications of a lat machine.

In addition, the gymnasium assembly is preferably provided with an abdominal board unit 43 having a pair of hook members 44 secured at one end. The hook members 44 are shown as plate-like members adapted to extend over the front and top of a stay bar 20 to raise the corresponding end of the board to the desired height for the various exercises. Thus when it is attached to a stall bar, it can be located to provide a conventional inclined press apparatus.

The assembly with bar 27 can be lowered to locate the bar 27 beneath the armpit level, and the board 43 hooked on to bar 27. The user then stands within the assembly rests his arm on the board 43 and raises and lowers a barbell unit, such as shown in FIG. 4.

In accordance with the presention invention other exercise elements are provided with those illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 to produce a total exercise facility, as presently described. 7

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, a generally free standing gymnastic assembly similar to that shown in FIG. I is illustrated. In FIG. 4, a base member 43 is provided having a stall bar unit projecting upwardly therefrom, with a plurality of parallel vertically spaced stall bars 44 secured between a pair of vertical posts 45 and 46. The posts 45 and 46 are firmly secured to the base members 43 which may be of a sufficient size and weight such that it can be used without a minimum of any further attachment. The upper end is however normally securedto a suitable upper wall structure to insure a firm and stable support. The unit may also be removably housed within a suitable storage cabinet along with other accessories as in FIG. 1.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, wall pulley weight units 47 and 48 are secured within the vertical posts 44 and 45. Each of the pulley units may be of an essentially conventional construction and unit 48 is described. A top pulley 50 is rotatably mounted within the sidewall. A line 51 is looped over the pulley 50 and extends down and around a second pulley 52 with the opposite end of the line affixed secured to the wall 46 adjacent the pulley 50. An adjustable weight member 53 is mounted on the lower pulley 52 and thus pulls on the line hand grip unit 54 is secured to outer end of line 51. In use, the user grasps the as shown in FIG. 1 are provided. Unit 55 is described and corresponding elements of unit 56 are identified by corresponding primed numbers. Unit 55 includes a plate-like hook base 57having the upper hook portion for releasable attachment over a stallbar 44 in combination with a forwardly projecting parallel bar 58 which is braced by a similar tubular bar member 59. The parallel bars 58 and 58' are shown as tubular pipes of a sufficient structural strength to readily support the weight of the personnel which will be using and exercising on theassembly. In FIG. 4 the units 55 and 56 are shown located on a lower stall bar such that the user may do headstands employing the parallel bars for sup port.

The tubular extension construction as previously noted permits attachment of pull-up bars and other related devices. In FIG. 4, similar barbell support units 60 and 61 are provided on units 55 and 56. Unit 60 includes a tubular mount 62 adapted to slip over the hand portion of the bar 58. A U-shaped bracket 63 is secured to the upper wall of mount 62. Unit 61 is similarly constructed. The units 60 nd 61 provide a support for a barbell unit 64 for any desired exercise. Thus, as shown in FIG. 4, the user may locate a stool 65 immediately forwardly of or adjacent to the supported barbell 64 with his back resting on the stool to lift the barbell unit 64 upwardly and thus forming an assembly, in essence, similar to or the same as the more conventional bench press rack. Such units conventionally have a framework for supporting of a barbell unit with an integrated bench upon which the user lies. The illustrated assembly of FIG. 4 may be modified by providing of a chinning bar unit 66 such as shown in FIG. 6 and used for push-up and/or pull-ups. i

Bar 66 has similar telescopic mounts 67 for attachment to the parallel bars 55 and 56, with a spring loaded latch pin 68 in the opposite ends passing through mounts 67 and into appropriate openings in the bars. The mounts are shown secured within the bar 66 with inclined outer ends 69 for suitable wide arm pullups and other exercises.

As previously noted a rowing lever attachment such as shown in FIG. 2 may be provided and interconnected with the parallel bars to provide a calf exercise machine. A particularly advantageous structure is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, a novel rowing lever 70 is shown with a preferred construction including a hinge clamp bracket 7 1 which spans and encompasses a pair of ad jacent stall bars 44. The bracket 71 is formed of a pair of similar shallow U-shaped members hinged together at one end as at 71a. The opposite ends are provided with upwardly extending abutting flanges 72, with a bolt and wing nut unit 72a passed therethrough for firmly attaching of the clamp unit to the stall bars 44. A support shaft 73 is pivotally attached to the bracket 71 by a pivotal attachment which, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, includes a pair of L-shaped pivot brackets 74 welded or otherwise secured to the clamp bracket 71. Support legs of the brackets 74 are spaced generally in accordance with the width of the support shaft 73. A pivot bolt member 75 extends through the extended legs of brackets 74 and the shaft 73 to pivotally attach the support shaft 73 to the clamp bracket 71 and therefore to the stall bars 44.Thei shaft 73 extends outwardly from the pivot support and is adapted to slidably receive an extensionsleeve 76 pro- 73 and the sleeve 76 are provided with appropriate 3 openings to permit locking of the extension sleeve 76 in either of a plurality of positions, and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, between a short position, as illustrated, when the device is to be used for a calf machine, and in an extending position, when it is to be used as a conventional rowing lever. More particularly, the shaft 73 is provided with axially spaced openings 79. The extension sleeve is provided with a single opening 80 which may be aligned with any one of the shaft openings 79. A pin-type key 81 is provided to firmly interlock the sleeve 76 to the shaft 73 in either of the selected positions.

The outer end of the sleeve 76 is provided with a laterally extending tube member 82, welded or otherwise secured to the undersurface thereof. A barbell shaft or rod 83 extends therethrough with suitable weights 84 secured to the barbell adjacent to the support tube member 82. The outer end of the barbell rod 83 is freely available for use as a rowing lever.

The upper surface of the outermost end of the sleeve 76 is provided with a hook member 85 for selectively receiving of an interconnecting means 86 to form a calf machine, such as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Generally, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a shoulder yoke unit 87 is provided which is specially constructed for releasable interconnection to the parallel bars 58 and 58 which are appropriately located with respect to the rowing lever 70 to form a calf machine. The yoke unit 87 includes a pair of appropriately spaced tubular arms 88 and 89 interconnected by a lateral brace 90. The arms 88 and 89 are adapted to mate with'the tubular parallel bars 58 and 58', and the illustrated embodiment of the invention are shown projecting onto the parallel bars. The lateral brace 90 is spaced inwardly from the arm ends which are adapted to project onto the parallel bars and thus provided a locating means for the inward projection of the yoke arms.

The yoke arms 88 and 89 project outwardly therefrom a significant distance and releasably receive similar shoulder pads 91, which are shown at tubular foam members telescoped over the ends of the arms.

The cross brace 90 of the yoke unit 87 is provided with a hook member 92 permitting selective connection of any one of the chain links of the illustrated flexible connector 86. The chain length is adjusted to raise the rowing lever 70 with the yoke unit 87 in a parallel position. In use, the personnel stands immediately in front of the rowing lever with the shoulder pads resting -on his shoulders. The connecting chain 86 extends downwardly and inwardly of the rowing lever 70 and the yoke unit 87 is urged onto the parallel bars 58 and 58 to prevent slippage therefrom. The parallel bars 58 and 58' are located on the stall bars 44 to normally locate the yoke unit 87 below the level of the users shoulders. Thus the parallel bar units 55 and 56 pivot about the stall bar 44 and the rowing lever pivots about its pivot connection to permit raising of the assembly. The shoulder pads 91 rest on and transmit the parallel bars 58 and 58.

More particularly, the crankshaft 94 includes end bearing projection 97 having a common axis. Similar ball bearing units 98 and 99 are secured to the shaft projections and each includes an outer exterior sidewall mounting bracket 100 which is otherwise secured to the side of a mounting tube 101 as by welding or the like. The tube 101 as illustrated is of a relatively short length and is adapted to telescope over the parallel bar. A locking screw 102 firmly interconnect tubes 101 to the bars and firmly supportsthe bicycle pedal assembly 93 upon the parallel bars. The crankshaft 94 extends between the parallel bars 58 and 58' and is provided with a pair of similar and oppositely offset generally U- shaped cranks or arms 102 and 103. Each of the arms has a base portion 104 spaced from the centerline defined by the common bearing mountings. This portion is relatively flat and a foot pedal member 105 is rotatably mounted thereon in any suitable manner. The foot pedal member 105 is adpated to accommodate the foot of the user in the normal manner, or the hand of the user. Thus by locating of the parallel bars at an appropriate level, the user can stand on the bicycle unit, grasp an appropriate upper stallbar 44 and pedal in the conventional bicycle manner. Alternatively, by placing of the parallel bars 55 and 56 on an upper stall bar, the pedals are located such that the user grasps the pedals with his hands whicle standing on the floor, and rotates the pedal unit with his arms.

The abdominal board 106 is preferably constructed as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. A padded portion 107 is provided adjacent one end, covering a little over onehalf of the board. The oppositie end is provided with stall bar hooks 108. A web strap 109 is provided adjacent the stall bar hook end and may be provided with an adjustable buckle arrangement, not shown. The

board may be positioned on the stall bar, as shown,

with the user lying on the board 106 with his feet supported within the web.

Further, a pair of flexible stirrup members 110 are provided in slightly spaced relation to the cross web 109 to permit further application of the unit. The boardss hook members 108 are such that the hook portion lies generally in'the plane of the board 106, as shown in FIG. 13 with the hook portion bent upwardly over the end of the board such that the outermost hook end 111 lies generally within the bottom plane of the board. This permits placing of the board directly on the floor in a relatively flat position as in FIG. 13. A pair of calf support fabric loops'1l2 have connecting chains 113 which may be attached to a ring 114 on the board and thereby provide for the deep knee bend exercises, in accordance with the conventional manner.

The present invention thus provide a compact and extremely versatile assembly of gynmastic equipment which provides means for essentially all of the basic and advanced body building exercises. The illustrated attachments provide the necessary equipment for all of the exercises permitted in a complete full-facility gymnasium such as th YMCA, and commercial health establishments. Thus, assemblies as illustrated, provide the necessary sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, pressing, rowing as well as various leg and arm exercises with and without barbells or other weight elements such as provided by the lat attachment, wall pulleys and the like.

9 Further it is readily adjustable and adapted to personne] of various size, ability and the like. This invention thus provides a very practical unit andone which is readily adapted to normal manufacturing processes.

templated as being within the scope of the following claims, particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. An exercise apparatus comprising a pluralityof vertically spaced stall bars mounted in a supporting structure, a pair of separate parallel bar means each of which includes a mounting means for releasably attaching the corresponding parallel bar to the stall bars with the parallel bars projecting outwardly in parallel relationship from the stall bars, said parallel bars including grippable free outer end portions for hand gripping by exercising personnel and further adapted to telescopically receive auxiliary equipment, and auxiliary exercise equipment including telescoping attachment members adapted to detachably telescope over the free end of the parallel bars to provide a direct support of such auxiliary equipment.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting means of said parallel bar means includes a plate-like bracket member, a hook member formed on one end and offset from the general plane of the bracket member, said hook extending over the back and side and top of one of said stall bars with the bracket depending from said hook and resting against the front of the lower stall bars immediately below the hooked stall bar, said parallel bar projecting from said bracket, and a supporting brace member extending between the central portion of the parallel bar downwardly and inwardly to the lower portion of the bracket to form a supporting unit with the portion of the parallel bar outwardly of the supporting brace constituting said grippable free outer end portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said parallel bar is a tubular round member and said auxiliary equipment includes a member adapted to detachably telescope onto said tubular parallel bar.

4. The appartus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary equipment includes a chinning bar including a pair of end tubular members adapted to detachably telescope over the outer end of the parallel arms and including a cross member extending therebetween.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary equipment includes a bicycle sub-assembly comprising a pair of end tubular support members adapted to detachably telescope over the corresponding parallel portions, and a bicycle-type foot pedal rotatably attached to the corresponding base, said crankshaft terminating in bearing members having brackets secured to the. sidewalls of the tubular mounting members.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including additional auxiliary equipment comprising a rowing lever unit having an inner pivotal mounting means for releasable attachment to one of said stall bars and a support shaft pro-, jecting outwardly from said pivotal mounting means, an extension member releasably secured to said shaft in a plurality of axial positions, and a weight means secured to the outer end of the extension and having operating handles extending laterally to the opposite sides of the extension.

8. The apparatus of claim 1. wherein said auxiliary equipment includes a shoulder yoke means including a pair of laterally spaced interconnected yoke-members having an inner end adapted to releasably telescope with the grippable free end portions of the parallel bars, shoulder pads secured to the outer endof the yoke members, and including additional auxiliary equipment comprising a pivotally mounted weighted lever having an inner end with pivotal means for pivotal interattachment to one of said stall bars and having an arm member projecting outwardly therefrom and terminating in generally corresponding spaced relation to the shoulder yoke unit, and a flexible member interconnecting the shoulder yoke unit and the pivotal arm, said arm including weight means.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary equipment includes a pair of cradle members having telescoping support members adapted to detachably telescope with the corresponding parallel bars and including upwardly facing cradle members to support a laterally extending bar, said laterally extending bar being adapted to support weights. lever 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary exercise equipment includes a chinning bar member having a pair of end tubular members adapted to detachably telescope over the parallel bars and including a chinning bar secured between said elements, a pair of supporting bracket units, each of said bracket units including a tubular member to detachably telescope over one of said parallel bars and a U-shaped bracket extending perpendicular to the tubular member, a shoulder yoke unit including a pair of elongated tubular members adapted to detachably telescope with said parallel bars and including a laterally extending connecting brace adjacent the inner end of the tubular members, said yoke unit including a hook member provided on the cross brace and a flexible attachment means connected to said cross brace, and further including additional auxiliary equipment comprising a rowing lever unit having an inner pivot mount adapted to be releasably attached to one of said stall bars and projecting forwardly therefrom and terminating in the outer end in a weight assembly, said rowing lever unit being extendible to a plurality of predetermined positions, the outer end of said rowing lever unit having means for releasable attachment to said flexible connecting member for interconnection between the calf portion of the legs with the feet implanted within the feet strap members and having weighted pulley units provided to the opposite sides of the stall bar unit and secured to the supporting structure and a lat machine having a mounting bracket with an upper hook member for releasable mounting on one of said stall bars.

11. An exercise apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically spaced stall bars mounted in a supporting structure, a pair of separate parallel bar means each of which includes a mounting strap having an upper curved hook portion and a depending flat base portion of a length greater than the vertical spacing of two of said stall bars for releasably hooking the corresponding parallel bar means to the upper of said two stall bars with the base portion abutting at least the lower of said two stall bars, said bar means including a parallel bar projecting outwardly from the base portion immediately beneath the hook portion and in parallel relationship to the parallel bar of the other of said parallel bar member connected to the base portion thereof and to the parallel bar thereof in spaced relation to the outermost end of the bar, whereby the ends of the parallel bars define grippable free outer end portions for hand gripping by exercising personnel and further adapted to telescopiclly receive auxiliary equipment.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 including additional auxiliary equipment comprising a rowing lever means having inner pivotal mounting means for releasable attachment to one of said stall bars, a support shaft projecting outwardly from said pivotal mounting means, an extension member releasably secured to said shaft in a plurality of axial positions, and a weight means secured to the outer end of the extension and having operating handles extending laterally to the opposite sides of the UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENTNO: 74,657

DATED 1 April 1, 1975 INVENTOWS) 1 FRANK J. NIEBOJEWSKI It is certified that error appears in the ab0ve-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, Line 20, after "stall bars" cancel "2" and insert 2O Column 10, Line 30, at the end of the line, after CLAIM 9 the "period cancel "lever" Column 12, Line 1, after "bar" and before "including" CLAIM ll insert means Signed and Sealed this A ttes t:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer ('rmzmisxr'rmer ujlutcnls and Trademarks 

1. An exercise apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically spaced stall bars mounted in a supporting structure, a pair of separate parallel bar means each of which includes a mounting means for releasably attaching the corresponding parallel bar to the stall bars with the parallel bars projecting outwardly in parallel relationship from the stall bars, said parallel bars including grippable free outer end portions for hand gripping by exercising personnel and further adapted to telescopically receive auxiliary equipment, and auxiliary exercise equipment including telescoping attachment members adapted to detachably telescope over the free end of the parallel bars to provide a direct support of such auxiliary equipment.
 2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting means of said parallel bar means includes a plate-like bracket member, a hook member formed on one end and offset from the general plane of the bracket member, said hook extending over the back and side and top of one of said stall bars with the bracket depending from said hook and resting against the front of the lower stall bars immediately below the hooked stall bar, said parallel bar projecting from said bracket, and a supporting brace member extending between the central portion of the parallel bar downwardly and inwardly to the lower portion of the bracket to form a supporting unit with the portion of the parallel bar outwardly of the supporting brace constituting said grippable free outer end portion.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said parallel bar is a tubular round member and said auxiliary equipment includes a member adapted to detachably telescope onto said tubular parallel bar.
 4. The appartus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary equipment includes a chinning bar including a pair of end tubular members adapted to detachably telescope over the outer end of the parallel arms and including a cross member extending therebetween.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary equipment includes a bicycle sub-assembly comprising a pair of end tubular support members adapted to detachably telescope over the corresponding parallel bars, a pedal crankshaft member rotatably attached to each of the tubular support members and including a pair of oppositely offset pedal cranks located to define foot and hand engageable portions.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said oppositely offset portions include oppositely located parallel base portions, and a bicycle-type foot pedal rotatably attached to the corresponding base, said crankshaft terminating in bearing members having brackets secured to the sidewalls of the tubular mounting members.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 including additional auxiliary equipment comprising a rowing lever unit having an inner pivotal mounting means for releasable attachment to one of said stall bars and a support shaft projecting outwardly from said pivotal mounting means, an extension member releasably secured to said shaft in a plurality of axial positions, and a weight means secured to the outer end of the extension and having operating handles extending laterally to the opposite sides of the extension.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary equipment includes a shoulder yoke means including a pair of laterally spaced interconnected yoke members having an inner end adapted to releasably telescope with the grippable free end portions of the parallel bars, shoulder pads secured to the outer end of the yoke members, and including additional auxiliary equipment comprising a pivotally mounted weighted lever having an inner end with pivotal means for pivotal interattachment to one of said stall bars and having an arm member projecting outwardly therefrom and terminating in generally corresponding spaced relation to the shoulder yoke unit, and a flexible member interconnecting the shoulder yoke unit and the pivotal arm, said arm including weight means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary equipment includes a pair of cradle members having telescoping support members adapted to detachably telescope with the corresponding parallel bars and including upwardly facing cradle members to support a laterally extending bar, said laterally extending bar being adapted to support weights. lever
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary exercise equipment includes a chinning bar member having a pair of end tubular members adapted to detachably telescope over the parallel bars and including a chinning bar secured between said elements, a pair of supporting bracket units, each of said bracket units including a tubular member to detachably telescope over one of said parallel bars and a U-shaped bracket extending perpendicular to the tubular member, a shoulder yoke unit including a pair of elongated tubular members adapted to detachably telescope with said parallel bars and including a laterally extending connecting brace adjacent the inner end of the tubular members, said yoke unit including a hook member provided on the cross brace and a flexible attachment means connected to said cross brace, and further including additional auxiliary equipment comprising a rowing lever unit having an inner pivot mount adapted to be releasably attached to one of said stall bars and projecting forwardly therefrom and terminating in the outer end in a weight assembly, said rowing lever unit being extendible to a plurality of predetermined positions, the outer end of said rowing lever unit having means for releasable attachment to said flexible connecting member for interconnection between the shoulder yoke unit and the rowing lever unit, an abdominal board having a pair of hook members on one end adapted to overlie any one of the stall barS and projecting forwardly therefrom, said board having a foot strap adjacent the hook end, said board having a pair of foot strap members spaced inwardly from the first harness member, a pair of deep knee bend harness members having means for releasable attachment to the abdominal board and each harness member having a loop member adapted to be located about the upper calf portion of the legs with the feet implanted within the feet strap members and having weighted pulley units provided to the opposite sides of the stall bar unit and secured to the supporting structure and a lat machine having a mounting bracket with an upper hook member for releasable mounting on one of said stall bars.
 11. An exercise apparatus comprising a plurality of vertically spaced stall bars mounted in a supporting structure, a pair of separate parallel bar means each of which includes a mounting strap having an upper curved hook portion and a depending flat base portion of a length greater than the vertical spacing of two of said stall bars for releasably hooking the corresponding parallel bar means to the upper of said two stall bars with the base portion abutting at least the lower of said two stall bars, said bar means including a parallel bar projecting outwardly from the base portion immediately beneath the hook portion and in parallel relationship to the parallel bar of the other of said parallel bar means, and each of said bar including a strengthening member connected to the base portion thereof and to the parallel bar thereof in spaced relation to the outermost end of the bar, whereby the ends of the parallel bars define grippable free outer end portions for hand gripping by exercising personnel and further adapted to telescopiclly receive auxiliary equipment.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1 including additional auxiliary equipment comprising a rowing lever means having inner pivotal mounting means for releasable attachment to one of said stall bars, a support shaft projecting outwardly from said pivotal mounting means, an extension member releasably secured to said shaft in a plurality of axial positions, and a weight means secured to the outer end of the extension and having operating handles extending laterally to the opposite sides of the extension. 